Reinforced luggage



Dec. 7, 1948. M. GER ON' 2,455,861

REINFORCED LUGGAGE Filed A r l 10, 1947 A? fizz 172271" Moe/2w Lhasa/v Patented Dec. 7, 1948 REINFORCED LUGGAGE Morris Gerson, Newark, N. J., assignor to Henry L. Kotkins, Seattle, Wash.

Application April 10, 1947, Serial 'No. 740,566'

This invention relates to reinforced luggage and particularly to improvements in that type of luggage wherein two open box-like container portions are constructed of leather or equivalent material and are retained in definite relationship by' hinged-together rectangular frames which inter fit' along a median longitudinal plane of the case when it is closed. y a

While such container portions are sufliciently rigid to be form-retaining when the case is new, the outer corners at the ends thereof frequently become damaged or lose their rigidity and partially collapse in use, thus detracting materially from the usefulness and attractive appearance of the luggage as originally constructed. While these difiiculties may be obviated by the provision of complete box-like metallic frames, such frames add materially to the weight of the luggage and further tend to prevent the desirable hand-crafted appearance which ensues when the container sections are constructed of leather or similar material without such complete reinforcing frames.

It is an important object, therefore, of the present invention to provide reinforcing means for luggage of this character which prevent the collapse of the outer corners of the case but which at the same time do not add materially to the weight nor detract from the appearance thereof.

This desirable result is accomplished by securing L-shaped metallic reinforcing strips inside the corners of the container portions of the case, such strips extending from the lower outer corners (when the case is closed) along the corner portions of the case to the points of juncture of said corner portions with the usual rectangular frames.

Other and further objects of importance in the present invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specifications and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a traveling case or similar piece of luggage adapted to be provided with the improved reinforcing means of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation View showing such a case with its container halves in open position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on the line III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view ofa metallic 1 Claim. (01. 190 50) 2 reinforcing strip used in constructing luggagein accordancewiththis invention.

As shownon the drawings:

The reference numerals In and II designate rectangular frame portions which are usual in the construction of luggage of the character here under consideration. -Said frame portions are hingedly' connected by. a longitudinal hinge 9 and-the frame portion II is; provided with a projection H a which closely overlaps a portion Illa on the frame portion In to afford a closed and substantially weatherproof joint when the case is closed.

A box-like container having an open end defined by the frame l0 and the frame II is provided by securing to each of said frames in the usual manner side portions I2 ordinarily provided with reinforcing lining l3 of fiberboard,

cardboard or similar material and with end portions I4 provided with similar reinforcing liners l5. A bottom or base portion is for the entire case is secured at its outer edges to the side and end portions of each of the box-like containers and extends across outside of the hinge portion 9 and may be secured to said hinge portion in any desirable and well known manner. The bottom portion It may, if desired, be provided with supporting studs I! which prevent scuffing of the bottom of the case when the same is placed on a supporting surface.

The case may also be provided with a usual handle l8 and with usual lock hardware I9. The construction so far described is standard and well known in the art to which this invention pertains.

Even though the side and end portions of the case, which are ordinarily constructed of leather or other semi-flexible material, are reinforced by the linings l3 and I5, difficulty is frequently experienced in the collapse ,of' the corners of the case of the junctures of these side and end portions, particularly under heavy use incident to travel where, for example, cases are indiscriminatively piled with rather heavy pieces of luggage. This invention is concerned with the reinforcement of such corners to prevent such collapse and to maintain a trim and regular appearance; as of new luggage, under long and hard use.

The reinforcement of the corners is effected by the insertion therein, tightly against the lining I5 at the junction thereof with the lining I 3, of L-shaped- 'metallic reinforcing strips, one of which is shownin perspective in Figure 5 of the drawings. The position of these reinforcing strips in reference to the general construction of the closed case is shown by dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings.

These reinforcing strips 20 are held in position inside the casing at the junction between the side walls l2 and end walls M by means of strips 2|, the inner edges of which are stitched or otherwise suitably secured to the lining IS in position over the reinforcing strips 20, the outer ends of which are carried out between the edges of the portions l2 and I 4 and secured in position between these edges by stitching or in any other suitable manner. The manner of securing the outer edges of the strips 2| is shown at 22 in Figure 4.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that this invention provides light weight but effective reinforcement for the corners of the container halves of the case. These reinforcing means are inexpensive to apply, do not add materially to the weight of the case, and at the same time add sufiicient rigidity thereto that the corners will not readily collapse under normal hard usage.

I am aware that numerous details of construction and of materials used may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent grantedonthis application otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

In a suitcase of the character described. a rectangular bottom, a single rectangular member bent at one end thereof to form a side and a top, means to attach the lower end of said side to said bottom, a substantially rectangular piece at each end of said suitcase, out-turned edges on said last named pieces forming, with said member, an exterior-welt, and L-shaped metal reinforcement lying inside said case adjacent said welt, a securing strip covering said reinforcement and extending into said welt at one side and secured to said end at the other side, and stitching passing through said welt and through said securing strip to secure the pieces of said welt together.

' MORRIS GERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,434, 96! Silver l- Nov. 7, 1922 1,464,643 Burchess Aug. 14, 1923 2,035,493 Mees Mar. 31, 1936 2,263,467 Medoff Nov. 18, 1941 

